Chiswick Albion Battle For Three Vital Points

West Middlesex Sunday Football League Premier Division - Twickenham Rangers 1 Chiswick Albion 4

Chiswick Albion battled away for three vital points against a lively Twickenham Rangers side also hungry for a win. The Albion have been restricted to only three matches in the last three months, but looked in better shape than expected. Both sides created a couple of early half-chances but the keepers dealt with them with ease. Albion had to draft in Robert Dawson between the sticks as regular keeper Richard Ireson was injured. A couple of others fell by the wayside, one a victim of St Valentine duties, a new excuse I can add to the list complied over the years. Those who did show up though put in a decent performance, and the Albion were just about in command throughout.
Liam White shot straight at the keeper and Adam White went close with two good chances but both went wide. Then Liam White struck a powerful shot from fully 35 yards and the keeper did well to turn it over. The chances were coming thick and fast and it was no surprise when the Albion eventually took the lead. Liam O’Neill showed great perseverance to chase down a dithering defender and was bundled to the floor for his troubles. Penalty king Liam White coolly sent the keeper the wrong way and Albion were one up. The Albion soon made it two, as Liam White picked out Nicky Wozniak.

Wozniak took a great first touch and placed his shot just inside the post. Rangers were making inroads, but Matty Wozniak and Oggy Soskic were in solid form. Ben White did well to restrict a Usain Bolt type winger who was too quick for his own good. Anthony Weekes, Albion own speed merchant needed to double up on occasion to keep him at bay. Rangers did hit the crossbar with a fluky shot but the Albion were in the ascendancy. It looked that Albion were about to go three up when Adam White chipped the advancing keeper, only for a defender to hook the ball out of the gaping net.
The second half and Rangers felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty as an infringement took place inches outside the box. The resulting free-kick sailed harmlessly wide. Rangers persistence was rewarded though when another cross-cum-shot hit the back post and dropped in this time. The match could have swung either way at this point, but Anthony Clarke, whose return to form was for all there to see, made a great forward run. Clarke then crossed and Ognjen Soskic fired in. Rangers slumped and the Albion pressed for the fourth. This duly came from a Greg Veazey corner. Ognjen Soskic stooped low to head home and the points were on their way back to Chiswick.
Unlike many previous seasons, there seem to be no easy points around this division, and the West Middlesex League Premier is surely the toughest in the County.
Albion Team: Dawson (Flynn), White B, Wozniak M, Soskic O, Wozniak N, Clarke, Veazey, Weekes, O’Neill, White L , White A

Man of the Match: Nicky Wozniak

Champagne Moment of the Match: Liam White’s thunderous shot.

Referee Kent Ross (Putney)

Match Report: Mark White

February 21, 2009